Events Committee:
Wednesday, August 1st, 9:30-10am in the Windhorse community room.The Events Committee plans Windhorse community events and groups. Clients, staff, and community members are welcome to attend and share their ideas. The committee meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 9:30 to 10am.

Community Lunch:
Tuesday, August 14th, 12:30-1:30pm at the Windhorse office.This is an opportunity to meet and socialize with others in the Windhorse community while enjoying lunch. All are welcome to come for the whole hour or just stop by for a visit. Please feel free to bring your own lunch or contribute something yummy for the group.

Community Education:
Wednesday, August 8th, 9-11am with an optional guided meditation 9-9:30am.Join the Windhorse staff during their monthly discussions and trainings on topics relating to the work of Windhorse. Open to the entire Windhorse community. 2nd Wednesday of the month, 9:30-11am. You are also welcome to attend the 30-minute guided meditation from 9-9:30am.

Board Updates:
The next Board & Finance Committee meeting will be Tuesday, August 14th from 12-1:30pm EST. The Board will also be participating in a retreat in Portland, OR on September 14-16th.

Development Corner:
Small Moments Plus Trust Add Up to Lasting Positive Change

Dear Windhorse Friends,

As I mentioned previously in this section of Currents, this year is our 25th Anniversary. As a continuation of this anniversary theme we are collecting and printing personal Windhorse experiences.

This month, Jeremy Foster, a Personal Care Attendant and former client of Windhorse Northampton had this to say about his experience receiving services here:

“Having a whole group of people supporting me in a non-judgmental, attentive way at Windhorse allowed me to slowly sort out my path towards growth at this stage in my life. It also provided me with experiences, reflections, and patterns that strengthened my abilities to observe myself and care for myself even after the experience with the Team ended. I can’t point to an exact series of moments, conversations, or thoughts that allowed me to develop those skills over time but little moments flash into my mind that are at least small examples of the greater whole. Most of them are really simple things. I remember once having my Team Leader arrive for a shift and I was totally out of it, half lost in depression and mind-numbing anxiety, half exhausted from working on my issues in therapy as well as from working to maintain the random practicalities that make up adult existence. They didn’t push me or run in to fix the state I was in; they just offered to do the dishes, and something about those really simple, small acts, devoid of any “shoulds” or grander subtext, settled into me over time. They reinforced everything that I was working on truly believing and trusting in; that I truly was okay, that I was a decent human being, that the sadness and inaction that consumed me over the years didn’t define me as a person, and that the little random acts in life add up. It was around that time in my life that I actually started to believe that positive change was possible, which is a very powerful thing. I am not saying that any one moment truly changed me or how I viewed the world, but the small moments certainly link up and that one link still brings a tear to my eye.”

I am deeply grateful for Jeremy’s comments. We invite you as well to take a moment to share a memory that distills your Windhorse experience. You are welcome to e-mail, mail, or call directly. If I am not available by phone, feel free to leave a message or a good time for me to return your call. You are welcome to be quoted anonymously if you wish. Anonymous comments are highly valuable as well. I look forward to hearing from you.

Things To Do: Swimming Spots (and Sweet Treats)

We’ve had some hot hot hot days in the recent past, and in New England those temperatures can be hard to escape as many of our old buildings aren’t equipped with central air or multiple air conditioning units. So how can one stay cool? Swimming! It’s an excellent way to spend a surface-of-the-sun-type of day as it’s both refreshing and a source of exercise (so that you can hopefully sleep more soundly through the warm night). There are a number of Windhorse staff members who are avid outdoor swimmers and so we’ve queried them for recommendations, and here’s what we’ve come up with so far:

Chapel Brook in Ashfield. Please note that this website mostly describes a hike, but the swimming spot is easily walkable from the road. That said, the water is quite cold in this spot so you might enjoy going for a hike first, and then a swim to cool off.

And after a few hours of swimming, there’s nothing better than rewarding yourself with an ice cream cone from one of our local ice cream stands/shops. Need some suggestions of where to go? Check out our post from last July, which you can find here.

If swimming and ice cream aren’t up your alley, or if you’ve already done them and need something else to do, then check out The Daily Hampshire Gazette’s Summer Guide 2018. It’s loaded with tons of ideas, from activities to do on a rainy day (rock climbing, anyone?) to a calendar of events taking place in the Valley in July and August.

Do You Need More Water?

It’s important to keep up with your body’s water requirements on any given day, but it’s even more important during the summer months when the air is humid and temperatures can reach into the 90’s. With this in mind, here are a few links that may aid you in your goal to drink more water each day. They cover everything from how much water to drink, how and where to get it from other sources like foods, and ways to get creative about training yourself to drink more water.

Recipes: Pizza Proposals

July, August, and September provide the Valley with the largest selection of locally grown fruits and vegetables of the year. So what can one do with all of this produce goodness? Many things, no doubt, but we have pizza in mind. Pizza can be very simple to make — especially if you buy a pre-made dough or crust and some pizza sauce — and it is generally a crowd pleaser, good for potlucks, parties, get togethers, as well as quiet nights in (with leftovers for another day or two). We encourage you to experiment with some pizza recipes and let us know which you found to be the most successful. We’ve provided a few recipes below as a jumping off point, but don’t let these limit you; let your imagination run wild and see where it leads you. You may find a new, mind-blowing flavor combination that the world (or our Windhorse community, at least) needs to know about.

If you’re looking for places to buy the freshest, local produce then try one of area’s farmers’ markets. A list of local farmers’ markets was provided in our post from May of last year, which you may find here. We’ve checked and all of the days, times, and locations listed in that post are still accurate. And if you’re in need of delicious, high-quality meats and cheeses, the Valley has some great resources for that as well, including Sutter Meats in Northampton, Provisions in Northampton (primarily a wine and beer store but they also have a large cheese and charcuterie counter, as well as other interesting foodie items), River Valley Co-op in Northampton, and Corsello Butcheria in Easthampton.

Development Corner:
It’s Windhorse’s 25th Year!

Dear Windhorse Friends,

2018 is a momentous year for Windhorse. We are celebrating our 25th anniversary since our founding in 1993 in Northampton, MA. We have expanded to three locations over the past seven years with the addition of sites in San Luis Obispo, California and in Portland, Oregon. As we grow, I feel so much gratitude for the vibrancy of connections and the generosity of the people who represent the Windhorse alumni.

As part of our anniversary year, we are collecting stories that represent our approach to supporting individuals in defining their recovery. We have many ways of describing the aspects of our approach; “people as medicine,” “compassionate and responsive team approach,” and “recovery through relationship,” to name a few. As we say on our website, we believe that “building a meaningful life is central to the work of recovery and not separate from it.”

We invite you to take a moment to share a memory that distills your Windhorse experience. You are welcome to e-mail, mail, or call directly. If I am not available by phone, feel free to leave a message or a good time for me to return your call. I look forward to hearing from you.

Things To Do: It’s Time for Pick-Your-Own

The weather is warmer, the days are longer, the sun is shining, so now’s the time to start picking your own produce. Get out there and grab some goodies! Not only will you benefit from the vitamin D after a long winter (thank you, sunshine!) but it can be good exercise, and picking your own produce is often cheaper than buying pre-picked items. If you have children in your lives this can be a wonderful activity to get them outside, moving around, and having fun. Who doesn’t like a little treasure hunt? And that’s how it often feels searching for that perfectly plump, ripe, bright red strawberry, just like a treasure hunt.

June is strawberry season and there are plenty of farms that are more than happy to let you gather your own, but don’t stop there. As summer progresses there will be more options, like blueberries and raspberries, and come fall there are apples galore. We’ve collected a list of resources that should help you find a farm in your area, as well as another website that has a harvest calendar for western Mass so you’ll know when things are in season.

This Summer’s Community Events

This month’s community event will be Summer Solstice & Strawberry Shortcake, facilitated by Katherine (thank you, Katherine!). We will first meet at the office and then drive together to a local pick-your-own farm where we can gather strawberries. After that we will return to the office and enjoy our fresh strawberries along with some homemade shortcake biscuits and whipped cream. We may also celebrate the arrival of the summer solstice with activities, songs, or by simply enjoying our sweet treats outside in the fresh air.

If possible, please RSVP in advance so that we can plan for transportation to the farm and back. Windhorse will be covering the costs of the event itself, but if you’d like to pick and purchase strawberries to take home with you please note that the cost is approximately $3 per quart. Click here to check out the flyer for this event.

And next month’s community event will be our annual Windhorse Kickball & Pie Event, held at Sheldon Field and facilitated by Bashka and Liz (thanks, Bashka and Liz!). For those who haven’t attended before, Kickball & Pie is a summer tradition for Windhorse. Staff, clients, community members, family members, and friends are all welcome. We get together to enjoy the outdoors, play a few laid-back games of kickball, and treat ourselves with pies of all kinds (both the pizza and the sweet varieties). We hope you’ll join us!

The fields are just down the road on Bridge Street. Please bring a pizza or pie if you are interested and able. Other refreshments as well as outdoor games are appreciated too. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the email above. Click here to check out the flyer for this event.

Recipes: Splendiferous Strawberries

So by now you’ve seen our article on picking your own produce in the Pioneer Valley and that it’s strawberry season, and you’ve read that we’re having a strawberry-themed community event in the near future, so this blog post really wouldn’t be complete without a few strawberry recipes. Below is a list of recipes we’ve compiled so that you can take full advantage of your bounty of the county! They range from beginner to a little more involved so hopefully there’s something for everyone. Try one out and let us know what you think in the comments section.

Or if you’re looking for something a little more traditional, like the ever-popular strawberry shortcake, then check out our post from last June, which has a number of recipes for different versions of that crowd-pleaser.

[Not Yet] New to the Windhorse Library

Instead of sharing new books from our library, we would like to mention some titles that have caught our eye but that we haven’t yet had a chance to read. Have you read them? What were your impressions? Is there another book that you read recently that you’d recommend? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari

Award-winning journalist Johann Hari suffered from depression since he was a child and started taking antidepressants when he was a teenager. He was told—like his entire generation—that his problem was caused by a chemical imbalance in his brain. As an adult, trained in the social sciences, he began to investigate this question—and he learned that almost everything we have been told about depression and anxiety is wrong.
– from GoodReads.com

The Existentialist’s Survival Guide: How to Live Authentically in an Inauthentic World by Gordon Marino

In The Existentialist’s Survival Guide, Gordon Marino, director of the Hong Kierkegaard Library at St. Olaf College and boxing correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, recasts the practical takeaways existentialism offers for the twenty-first century. From negotiating angst, depression, despair, and death to practicing faith, morality, and love, Marino dispenses wisdom on how to face existence head-on while keeping our hearts intact, especially when the universe feels like it’s working against us and nothing seems to matter.

What emerges are life-altering and, in some cases, lifesaving epiphanies—existential prescriptions for living with integrity, courage, and authenticity in an increasingly chaotic, uncertain, and inauthentic age.
– from HarperCollins.com

Nobody Cares About Crazy People: The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Health in America by Ron Powers

A blend of history, biography, memoir, and current affairs ending with a consideration of where we might go from here, this is a thought-provoking look at a dreaded illness that has long been misunderstood.
– from HachetteBookGroup.com

It’s Graduation Season

The Pioneer Valley is saturated in colleges and universities. Believe it or not, there are seven schools of post-secondary education within twenty miles of Northampton, and one of those (Smith College) is right in town. We residents of the Valley are afforded many opportunities thanks to the presence of these colleges, including first-rate libraries, first-class art museums, and a multitude of shows and performances by groups and individuals who likely wouldn’t make a stop in western Mass were it not for the thousands and thousands of students. But… living in an area with so many colleges can have it’s drawbacks. One such drawback is graduation season. Parents, families, and friends flock from far and wide to watch their loved ones receive their diplomas, and this results in an at-times tremendous increase in the amount of traffic, the wait times at restaurants, and similar nuisances. We thought we’d give you a heads up about upcoming graduation weekends, that way you can avoid those areas on those days, or at least plan ahead for the additional traffic and lines.

Board Meeting Summary from May 8, 2018

To give some context, in between Board meetings the Finance Committee meets (monthly) so there have been ongoing discussions about the financial health of the organization. Northampton is still losing money and is headed toward break-even and the Board is attending to the needs arising.

All the board members were present except Sally, who had let us know she had a scheduling conflict when we set the meeting. In ratifying two sets of minutes, there was a discussion about a strategic approach to Northampton’s chronic up and down financial roller coaster ride and a desire for the Board to meet face to face. They are planning for a September Board meeting in Portland, and I will begin to pin the dates down by the end of May.

Elaine Vance was hired as the Outreach Director for the west coast, but it became clear in her initial days that she needs to act as a National plan and person. Elaine gave her background as a “mission moment” and then continued to explain her evaluation of what is needed and why and her plan for the rest of 2018. The Board was impressed and supportive. Some of her solutions are: the website is being handed to professionals, Northampton requires a more streamlined admissions approach, both sites need to figure out how to pick up calls when they ring, increasing visits to referring organizations and building those relationships. Elaine envisions a consistent message across the organization.

We then moved to Directors reports for each site and projections as to census in the coming months. Given staffing numbers, SLO has a waiting list until they can hire a new TL. Portland is receiving a new client in mid-May and thus will be full. During questions, there were requests from board members for additional reports, which Annie and I will produce by mid-May.

The final agenda item was reviewing the salary scales. Every three years, the Executive Directors update the salary scales for rates, any new job titles, auditing for pay equity. The biggest changes were making sure we were consistent between the sites and increasing the scales upwards. Any costs are reflected in the 2018 budget.

And May flowers bring…

Do you know what May is famous for in these parts? Asparagus! Seriously, it’s a pretty big deal around here. We even have a festival in its honor. And Hadley, a town right next door to Northampton, is known as the Asparagus Capital of the World. Have you tried this veggie we affectionately refer to as “Hadley grass”? If not, now’s your chance. The season is short so get it while you can. It’s delicious simply roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper, but it’s also tasty in everything from pasta to quiche to salads. Check out the following links for some recipe ideas.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Asparagus Festival, check out this link. This year’s events take place on Saturday, June 2nd from 10am to 6pm on the Hadley Town Common. You’ll find vendors, food booths, craft beer, and live music. And don’t miss out on the Hadley Grass ice cream from Flayvors of Cook Farm. Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it! You may be pleasantly surprised. (But if you’re not feeling adventurous, there will be other ice cream flavors available and everything from Cook Farm is lip-smackingly good.)

But, wait! There’s more! The joys of May are not limited to asparagus. As the warm temperatures become more steady, farmers will start to harvest more and more goodies from the ground. Check out the CISA’s (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture) website for a harvest schedule. The CISA website is also a great resource for locating farmers’ markets in the area, farms where you can pick your own fruits/veggies, and restaurants that are known to use and feature local produce.

Finally, we thought we’d let you know about The Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair, which is happening on May 26th and 27th at the Cummington Fairgrounds. If you’re a fiber enthusiast, or you’re just looking for a fun way to spend a day, this fair has everything from live demonstrations to competitions, vendor booths, kids’ workshops, and a potluck supper and ice cream social. There is no charge for admission to the fair but they do charge $10 per car to park.

Do you know of any can’t-miss events in the coming months? If so, please share them with us and the community in the comments section.

Ticks Are Out and About

After an early spring of brief “made you look!” days of warmth followed by long stretches of wretched cold, it felt like the warm weather we’ve been so eagerly awaiting would never stay for good. But our patience has paid off and it looks like we have some beautiful weather ahead of us. Sadly, we aren’t the only ones rejoicing with the climb in temperature. Ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting critters are coming out of hiding too. With tick-borne and mosquito-borne illnesses on the rise, it’s important to keep yourself well protected when outside, even if you’re only in your yard. Prevention using proper clothing and effective sprays is the best way to keep yourself from being bitten by an infected insect and contracting an illness, such as Lyme Disease. Click here for a New York Times article on how to protect yourself from insect bites, or click here and here for information from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) about staying safe from ticks and mosquitoes. And don’t forget to always do a tick check (on you and your pets!) whenever you come in from spending time outdoors.

New Groups to Try

We wanted to give you a heads up about new groups that have started or will be starting here at Windhorse, as well as new information on current groups and upcoming events.

The Pronoun Practice Group meets every Wednesday in the office library from 12 to 12:30pm, and it is open to the entire Windhorse community. The group focuses on speaking mindfully, learning to see and speak beyond gender lines, and demonstrating our respect for one another through the use of affirming pronouns. Check out the flyer for more information.

The Hiking Group will be restarting on Friday, May 25th. It will meet every Friday from 1 to 3pm. Please join us as we take advantage of this beautiful time of year, spend some time in the great outdoors, and reap the many mental and physical benefits of hiking. Participants should meet at the office and from there the group will travel to a selected hike in the area. Check out the flyer for more information.

Please note that the weekly Peer Social Gathering will be changing times. Starting on Friday, May 25th the group will meet from 3 to 4:30pm. Join us as we gather together, socialize, and converse in a casual and accepting environment.

And last but not least, please join us for our Open Mic & Potluck community event! It will happen on Friday, May 18th from 5:30 to 8pm at the office. Everybody is welcome to perform or share their creative offering. Singing, music, comedy, poetry, and more are all encouraged! Check out the flyer for more information.

New to the Windhorse Library

Keys to the Kingdom: Reflections on Music and the Mind by Kathleen L. Housley

Keys to the Kingdom: Reflections on Music and the Mind charts the course of an unusual odyssey. For nearly a decade, Kathleen Housley played piano with Katrina Withey, a gifted musician partially paralyzed from a stroke. To understand those times in their playing when disabilities disappeared in a shimmer of grace, Housley wrote brief reflections, turning to neuroscience and history for deeper insight. Some are as complex as a fugue. Others are as simple as a finger exercise on the C scale. Yet sounding throughout the reflections is a sublime theme – the importance of friendship.
– from the back cover

There is also a gardener named Ruth Stout who has a very different approach than most. She has books, but also this video.

Written by Victoria Yoshen, Executive Director of Windhorse IMH Northampton.
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Recipe: Tastes of Spring

If you’ve never seen them before, fiddleheads may look very strange and the idea of eating them may seem even stranger, but these little green spirals are considered a springtime delicacy. Fiddleheads are unfurled fern fronds, and they appear in their small, spiral state for only a short time so get them while they last. Their taste is similar to that of asparagus and artichokes and definitely worth a try. Just be sure to trim them, wash them thoroughly, and make sure they’re fully cooked before enjoying them (as they have been known to cause stomach upset otherwise). Just like asparagus and artichokes, these tasty morsels work well in egg dishes like quiche, as well as in pasta dishes and oven roasted, but don’t let that stop you from trying them in some other way. To start you off, here are a few of recipes that will introduce you to fiddlehead preparation and cooking methods. Try them out and let us know what you think.

Noho Pride Parade Happens Next Month

Do you know about Northampton’s annual Pride Parade? It’s a huge event, attracting thousands of participants, spectators, volunteers, and families. The Parade had its start in 1981 and continues to be “an event celebrating the spirit and strength in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ) communities in Western Massachusetts” (from the Noho Pride website). The event has blossomed into something far bigger than just the parade; it is now a jam-packed day full of fun, family-friendly events and entertainment. This year Pride Day happens on Saturday, May 5th. There is sure to be a Windhorse contingency present. If you’d like to join us, please feel free to contact us at info@windhorseimh.org. What to know more about Pride Day? Click here to go to the Noho Pride website or here to see the schedule of events.

The Simple Science of Sprouting

Sprouts and sprouted-grain bread are a common site in grocery stores these days, but why? Why are sprouts the new “big thing” in the health food movement? While we don’t know for sure, it likely has to do with the fact that sprouting is a fairly simple process, and by sprouting foods you can make them more nutritious. Any kind of “seed” can be sprouted, whether it be grains, nuts, legumes, or the items we traditionally refer to as seeds, such as sunflower seeds or chia seeds. According to the Harvard Medical School, sprouting seeds before consuming them can make them both easier to digest and make their nutrients more available for absorption by our bodies (see this article for more information). And it’s such an easy process! Do you want to know more? Windhorse is having an event where people can learn how to sprout and try it out for themselves. The Simple Science of Sprouting event is happening on Wednesday, April 25th at 1pm in the Windhorse office. If you’re interested in coming please contact us at info@windhorseimh.org for more information and to RSVP. And check out this flyer for more details.

In the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more about sprouting, try one of the following links, or head over to your local library or bookstore and ask for books on sprouting. Given how hot this topic is these days, we’re confident the librarian or bookstore employee will be able to point you in the right direction.

New to the Windhorse Library

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson

In Furiously Happy, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jenny Lawson explores her lifelong battle with mental illness… Furiously Happy is a book about embracing everything that makes us who we are-the beautiful and the flawed-and then using it to find joy in fantastic and outrageous ways. Because, as Jenny’s mom says, “Maybe ‘crazy’ isn’t so bad after all.” Sometimes crazy is just right. – from the inside flap

Currents is published monthly by Windhorse Integrative Mental Health of Northampton, 211 North St., Suite 1, Northampton, MA 01060. Executive Director is Victoria Yoshen. For questions, concerns and suggestions about Currents, contact us at info@windhorseimh.org.

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for upcoming community gatherings!

Community Events:Stay tuned for the April Community Event. All details will be sent via the community email list. If you’d like to be added to the community email list please contact us at info@windhorseimh.org.

Community Lunches:Gary’s Goodbye Community LunchTuesday, April 10th, 12:30-1:30pm in the Windhorse office kitchen.

For more information, contact us at info@windhorseimh.org.
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Harm Reduction at Windhorse

This month’s Community Education topic was harm reduction, presented by Greg King, a Team Leader at Windhorse IMH Northampton. We thought you might appreciate learning more about this topic and its relevance to Windhorse. Below you will find short summaries/impressions of Greg’s presentation and the topic of harm reduction written by two Windhorse staff members, as well as two additional links to articles written by other Windhorse staff members that go into further detail about harm reduction.

The following piece was written by Suzanne Webber, Intern and Team Counselor at Windhorse IMH Northampton:

At the Community Education gathering for Windhorse staff this month, clinician Greg King presented the topic of harm reduction as a positive approach to substance abuse and addiction. With its focus on the prevention of harm rather than on the prevention of drug use itself, harm reduction is distinct from Twelve Step and other programs which advocate abstinence. Acknowledging that recovery is incremental, harm reduction supports any positive change…. Read more of Suzanne’s thoughtshere.

The following was written by Hannah Tosi, Intern and Team Counselor at Windhorse IMH Northampton.

It seems so common sense, that one who is addicted to substances or behaviors is doing it because it causes some pleasure or some relief of pain. One reaches outside of oneself in search of anything to cope with life’s never ending barrage of difficulties. One seeks connection, nurturing, and peace, which is a Basically Good act. Why then, do we demonize, morally judge, and pathologize one who is acting out of loving intention, trying to love oneself in whatever way is possible at that time?… Read more of Hannah’s thoughtshere.

Recipe: Brighten Things Up with Citrus

In wintertime we often gravitate towards heavy meals and starchy foods for nourishment. Perhaps it’s an evolutionary trait which helps us store energy for the long winter. Whatever the reason for our indulgent meals of winter, the closer we come to spring, the more we want to ditch those root vegetables and cheesy pasta in favor of something a little more refreshing. And what could be more refreshing than a hearty helping of citrus? These sometimes tart, sometimes sweet, and always juicy fruits will likely brighten your day and give you big dose of vitamin C at the same time. Here are a few recipes we found that look worth trying.

Groups Offered at Windhorse

Did you know that there are currently eleven different groups offered at Windhorse? From yoga to writing to mindfulness skills, we cover a lot of ground during the week. Some of these groups are ongoing while others are only offered for a six or eight-week period. Some are open to the public while others are limited to Windhorse community members. See below for a link to the March Community Calendar, which gives more information about these groups including basic descriptions and the name of a person to contact if you would like more information. Please feel free to also email us at info@windhorseimh.org if you’re curious about one of these groups or if you have any questions.

Pioneer Valley Newsletters and Websites

We feel lucky that Windhorse is located in Northampton, one of the towns/cities in the Pioneer Valley. The Valley is a busy place, full of activities and events that cater to a multitude of different interests, hobbies, and talents. With so much going on it can be hard to stay up to date, so we thought we’d share with you some different resources for information about the people, places, and events in the Valley. Sign up for these newsletters and check out these websites and you are sure to be in the know in Noho. Please note that while these sites and newsletters lean more in the direction of the performing and fine arts, there are plenty more where these come from. Check out MeetUp, Facebook, or do a simple internet search and you will likely find plenty more sites and newsletters of interest.

The Windhorse Library

You probably know by now that the Windhorse office has a library database full of titles that we’ve acquired over the past twenty-five years, but did you also know that we subscribe to several magazines? Pop by the lobby to check out the latest issues.

Community Lunches:Tuesday, March 13th, 12:30-1:30pm in the Windhorse office kitchen.

New Groups Starting Soon:Journey of Self AcceptanceBegins Tuesday, March 6th, 3:30-5pm in the Windhorse office community room.
See Two New Groups on the Horizon for more information.

Finding Ground: Simple Skills to Practice MindfulnessBegins Monday, March 12th, 2-3pm in the Windhorse office community room.
See Two New Groups on the Horizon for more information.

For more information, contact us at info@windhorseimh.org.
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Look Forward to These Upcoming Community Events

February’s community event will be brunch at a local sugar shack. We’ll gather together to enjoy some pancakes, waffles, french toast, eggs, bacon, and of course, the all-important maple syrup. Please join us for this fun New England tradition! We will meet at the Windhorse office at 9:30am and journey together to the North Hadley Sugar Shack (you’re also welcome to drive yourself and meet us there). For those who haven’t been there before, it’s a rustic establishment that has a store, a barn, a restaurant where they serve breakfast during the late winter and early spring, and a boiling room where they turn the maple sap into maple syrup. The food is tasty, the atmosphere is fun, and the boiling room is interesting if you’re new to the maple syrup-making process. What’s not to love?

You can find all of the details below, along with a flyer for the event.

If you need a ride, we’d really appreciate it if you would contact Jeremy ahead of time so that he can make sure there is room for everyone. Also, please note that while this is a community event, individuals are responsible for covering the cost of their own meals. But the enjoyable company, warm atmosphere, and delicious food will be totally worth it!

But wait, there’s more! The March community event is certain to be just as fun as the February event. We will be making a trip to the Botanic Garden of Smith College for their annual spring bulb show. We all know that New England winters can drag on (and on and on) but Smith College comes to our rescue with this “spectacular array of blossoming crocuses, hyacinths, narcissi, irises, lilies and tulips” (from the Botanic Garden’s website).

If you need a ride from the office to the bulb show please be in touch with Sierra so that she can make sure there is room enough for everyone. Admission to the bulb show is free, but there is a suggested donation of $5 if you’d like to contribute to the amazing work they do at the Botanic Garden. Stay tuned to your email for additional information and updates about this event.

If you’re not currently on our community email list and you would like to be, please contact us at info@windhorseimh.org.

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Get a Makeover

Yes, they’re a cruciferous vegetable (along with broccoli and cabbage and the like) and, yes, they are very good for you and, yes, we probably all hated them as children, but these mini-cabbage-looking veggies are tastier than you might think. All they need is the right preparation and suddenly they go from “Oh no, not brussels sprouts!” to “OMG! These are delicious! Give me some more!”

We tracked down a couple of recipes that seem rather palate pleasing and we challenge you to give them a go. Try them out and report back in the comments section. And for those of you who are fans of brussels sprouts already, we’d really love to hear about your favorite recipes and preparations, too.

Board Meeting Summary from February 13, 2018

Everyone on the Board and all the Directors were present! In addition, Annie was there to represent the fiscal side, and Andi acted as a scribe.

The agenda was covered in an hour, mostly looking at Year-End Financials ($112K loss as of 12/31/2017 once all the journal entries were posted) and a discussion about the buffer that covers such losses and making sure we don’t drop below a certain level for financial stability.

The Board was gentle and clear that Northampton needs to figure out more strategies to make ends meet if we don’t have more people receiving services. I described ways we are branching out in terms of “services” and our current marketing efforts. Lisa, West Coast Exec Director, shared the first days of the new Outreach Director on the West Coast, who is also working nationally. It was fairly hopeful.

The next Board meeting is May 8th, though Finance will meet inbetween. On the agenda is the 3-year salary scale review and adjustments. The new Outreach Director will meet the Board for the Mission Moment.

Two New Groups on the Horizon

We are pleased to announce that there will be two new groups starting in March, both of which are open to the wider Windhorse community.

The first group is called Journey of Self Acceptance. Through dialogue and experiential exercise the group participants will explore the less-than-linear lifelong journey of self-acceptance, including the challenges we encounter along the way, and tools for embracing ourselves more fully.

The second group is a Finding Ground: Simple Skills to Practice Mindfulness. This group will introduce mindfulness skills which, both over time and in the present moment, may help develop equanimity and a sense of connection with one’s self. Starting with basic mindfulness techniques, the group will work toward exercises that are useful for more stressful experiences.

The Steering Committees of Windhorse

Over the next few months we intend to share with you, our broader community, more information on the inner workings of Windhorse, such as the different roles people hold and how decisions are made.

This month we’d like to tell you about the three steering committees that help direct the work of Windhorse.

The Clinical Steering Committee‘s focus is on the clinicians of Windhorse and the services we provide here, as well as support for the families of clients. It also discusses possible outside trainings that staff might benefit from (both individually and for the organization as a whole).

The Education Steering Committee is focused on curriculum for monthly Community Education meetings, ideas on what experts and field leaders to invite to the office for staff trainings, and innovations that could aid the work of Windhorse and continue its movement forward.

Finally, the Administrative Steering Committee focuses on a wide range of topics, from management and finance, to marketing and human resources, as well as the approval of new policies and group offerings.

For more information on the different steering committee meetings and who attends these meetings, please click here.

Steering committee meetings are open to Windhorse community members, however we ask that you please contact Victoria ahead of time so that we are aware of your intention to join the meeting. You may reach Victoria via email at VYoshen@windhorseimh.org.

Things To Do: The Bike Path from Leeds

Did you know that you can now reach the second largest river in New England from Leeds on the continuous bike trail? The recently completed tunnel beneath the AmTrack tracks along King Street and behind McDonalds now allows for that. Starting on the Haydenville/Leeds town line go along the Mill River with it’s various dams, passing Look Park and continuing by the round-about and skirting downtown Florence. Go by Meadow Brook and the back of Stop and Shop. Cross King Street and through to the new tunnel. It’s a short hop from the tracks, by the Montessori school and Coke plant and on to Damon Road. Crossing the bridge is a must – over our mighty Connecticut River and on to the farm fields of Hadley where the sun shines a bit longer at the end of the day in winter– just 7 miles or so from Leeds!

Book Recommendation

This book takes the philosophy from the science fiction work of Octavia Butler and shares it in essays and poems and resources and thoughts… There is a synergy between what is offered in the philosophy and what we try to do here at Windhorse. We don’t have it in our library yet but we thought it might interest some people to learn about it. The writer and her sister have a podcast series that riffs off different concepts from Octavia Butler’s work and what is going on these days in the world: https://www.endoftheworldshow.org/

Written by Victoria Yoshen, Executive Director of Windhorse IMH Northampton.

Currents is published monthly by Windhorse Integrative Mental Health of Northampton, 211 North St., Suite 1, Northampton, MA 01060. Executive Director is Victoria Yoshen. For questions, concerns and suggestions about Currents, contact us at info@windhorseimh.org.

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for upcoming community gatherings!

Community Events:January Community Council
Thursday, January 25th, 4-6:30pm at the Windhorse office.See Community Council is Next Week for more information.

Community Lunches:Tuesday, February 13th, 12:30-1:30pm in the Windhorse office kitchen.

For more information, contact us at info@windhorseimh.org.
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Staff Availability on January 31st

We want to let the community know that all of the Windhorse staff will be in a meeting on Wednesday, January 31st from 9am to 11am. During those hours the office will not be “manned” and staff may not be available by phone. In case of emergency, please contact Phoebe. You can either call her cell phone directly or dial the main Windhorse number and press 6 when you hear the greeting come on. This will also call Phoebe’s cell phone. Staff will be available as usual after 11am on the 31st.

Winter Soups to Warm the Soul

Winter is the ideal time to make a hearty soup, one that will warm you from head to toe on a frigid day and fill your stomach with a deep sense of satisfaction. Such a soup can take many forms and many recipes certainly qualify, but here are two that look particularly tasty to us.

The first combines beans, swiss chard, and sausage for rich flavor and that all-important feeling of comfort. You can find the recipe here.

The second recipe is vegan, so it’s appropriate for everyone out there. It has a curry and coconut base and is chock full of veggies. The combination of curry and coconut is both intensely flavorful and quite warming, just the thing to end your day with. Here’s the recipe.

If you’re looking for a way to incorporate these types of soups into your lunch, we suggest you find a recipe you like, make a large quantity of the soup, and freeze whatever you don’t need in individual, plastic containers or heavy Ziploc bags. This works particularly well for vegan soups, as sometimes dairy can be tricky to freeze. Soup tends to last quite awhile in the freezer and you can move your servings to the fridge as you need them, a day or two in advance so they have time to defrost. Just remember to cool the soup before you add it to the containers and put it in the freezer. One way to speed up the cooling process is to let the soup pot cool a little and then put it in an ice water bath. All of this may seem like a lot of effort, but it will be worth it when you have a week’s worth (or more) of warm, filling lunches all ready to go.

Do you have a favorite soup recipe? We’d love it if you’d share it with us (or send us the link) in the comments section.

Community Council is Next Week

This month’s community event is a Community Council, facilitated by Tristan. Council is an opportunity for us to gather together as a community and speak with each other openly. The format is inclusive and confidential. We sit in a circle with a “beautyway” in the center. There is a ceremonial quality and a history to the practice from many cultures. Council encourages people to speak and listen from the heart, to be true to what is real in the moment, and to listen to others with compassion and understanding. Through this we often get to know each other a bit better and feel closer and more integrated into the community. There is often a theme provided, which people may speak to during the council, but it is offered only as a starting point. People are free to speak about whatever arises that they sense needs to be spoken in the moment.

We hope you will consider joining us for Council. You can find all of the details below, as well as a flyer for the event.

Twisted Stitches Knitting Group Starts Soon!

For those of you who have been a part of the Windhorse community for awhile, you probably know already that knitting and fiber-related groups have made periodic appearances at the office. It’s not uncommon, especially at this time of year, to see someone sitting in the lobby or the kitchen working on a knitted hat, scarf, mitts, or the like. It’s a hobby that many of us enjoy. In response to the popularity of the craft, we are starting up the knitting group once more. This incarnation is being spearheaded by Suzanne, one of the aforementioned knitting enthusiasts (and also one of the interns at Windhorse) and it’s called Twisted Stitches. We hope you will consider joining her for what will very likely be a delightful group. Don’t have any knitting experience? No problem; everyone is welcome regardless of prior experience. Prefer crocheting or needlepoint or another craft to knitting? Great! Bring along your project and join your fellow fiber comrades. Not really interested in crafting, but want to hang out with some cool people and enjoy a hot beverage? That works for us. Come socialize and chat with us as we craft, or just sit back and be a spectator. All are welcome.

You can find all of the details of the group below, as well as a link to the flyer.

When: Wednesdays, January 24th – March 14th (no group on February 28th)

“Education” is Now “Community Education”

As some of you may know, Windhorse staff regularly meet together to attend Education. These Education meetings cover a broad range of topics relevant to the work of Windhorse. For example, we recently met over the course of several months to explore in-depth the book written by Windhorse-founder, Ed Podvoll, entitled Recovering Sanity: A Compassionate Approach to Understanding and Treating Psychosis. Also, we periodically have outside teachers/trainers/expects come to our Education sessions to teach us new skills, share their expertise, and/or delve deeper into an aspect of the Windhorse work. We’d like to announce that we are now changing “Education” into “Community Education”. We are opening up these Education meetings to the entire Windhorse community, so that you may attend and share in the learning. Community Education will take place on the second Wednesday of every month, from 9 to 11am, including a guided meditation from 9 to 9:30am. For those of you who receive our community calendar, you will now see that Community Education is featured on it. We invite you to join us for these meetings; there is no RSVP required. If ever there is a time when the Education is not open to the community we will alert you well in advance through a community email.

If you do not already receive community emails and you are interested in signing up, please contact us at frontoffice@windhorseimh.org. These emails announce new groups, community events, weather-related cancellations, events that may be of interest in the wider community, and other related topics. It’s a great way to stay in touch with Windhorse and keep abreast of the happenings-on here.

NVC Group Has Started

On Wednesday, January 10th the NVC (or Nonviolent Communication) Group started at Windhorse. Nonviolent communication is a practice based on the work of Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D. It offers a way of authentically connecting with others through deep listening. The group itself is skills-based and, through exercises and dialogue, teaches the participants the basics of NVC and how to make use of it in their lives. NVC Groups are not new to Windhorse; the practice of nonviolent communication is admired, respected, and used by many people here, and Windhorse has hosted groups in the past.

If you’re interested in learning more about the group and the skills practiced in it, please click here to view the November Currents article with a full description.

Things To Do: Indoor Activities for These Cold Winter Days

Winter can be beautiful, and there are plenty among us New Englanders who enjoy aspects of it (though perhaps not when it’s -20 degrees outside). But even the most ardent admirer of winter will admit that sometimes it can get a bit tiresome. We suggest that on days such as those you find an indoor activity to take your mind off of the cold waiting outside. Here’s a list of activities that we’ve come up with to help you celebrate the great INdoors.

Start on a jigsaw puzzle. From bookstores to toys stores they’re usually easy to find and they cover a broad range of images and difficulty levels.

Gather with others for some board games. Get together with a group of friends and have a board game night, perhaps complete with chips, cookies, and hot chocolate. Or join a MeetUp group devoted to board games.

Cook, share meals, have a potluck. Invite friends over to cook together or have a themed potluck, such as “Indian food” or “Comfort foods from childhood”. Or, if you’re feeling a little adventurous, take a cooking class and learn some new skills and recipes. The Baker’s Pin in Northampton has a selection of classes available for different experience levels. You can check out this semester’s offerings here.

Join a book club. There are some truly wonderful bookstores and libraries in the Valley and several run book clubs. The Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley has four book clubs. Forbes Library in Northampton has regularly scheduled book discussions, like this one, and they also host a monthly MeetUp called the Paradise City Readers. And there are likely plenty more where that came from. Try calling up your local library or bookstore and asking if they run or host a book club.

Try a new hobby or craft, or reignite your passion for an old one. Winter is the ideal time to stay indoors and work on something creative, crafty, artistic. Come join us at the Twisted Stitches group, a new knitting and crafting group at Windhorse. If you’d prefer something outside of Windhorse, stores such as WEBS in Northampton and Michaels in Hadley run many types of craft classes throughout the winter, and one (or more) is bound to pique your interest. For knitting/crocheting fans, you could try one of these MeetUps, or this class offered by the town of Northampton, or check Ravelry to see if there are any groups in your area that you could join (Ravelry is a free forum and resource for fans of fiber crafts). If you’re looking for something more intensive you could try Snow Farm in Williamsburg. They offer art classes in a variety of media. While not cheap, you will finish the class with some impressive skills and perhaps a new-found passion.

Host a tea party. It may sound like an activity for kids, but the fun is not limited to ages 10 and under. Adults can have just as much fun getting together and catching up over a pot of tea and maybe some cookies, scones, or a quiche. You could even make it a monthly event.

Dance like nobody’s watching. Why not? Pump up your favorite tunes or find some new ones online and get your body moving. There’s no need to go out to have fun dancing; you can have fun right in your own living room. Or, if you want something more formal, try a local dance school, such as Dance Northampton.

Go to a museum. They’re warm, quiet, and visually stimulating. All in all, it’s a pretty awesome way to spend a winter afternoon. Click here and you’ll see that there are plenty in the area from which to choose. If you’re looking for something slightly different you could try the local butterfly sanctuary or one of the college greenhouses. Talk about getting away from winter; you’ll feel like you’re practically in the tropics!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list and that you’ll consider trying one or two of these. If you have a favorite indoor wintertime activity we’d love it if you’d share it with us in the comments section.

Hike on Christmas Day
Monday, December 25th, meeting at 1pm at the Windhorse office.
Questions and RSVPs to: Peer@windhorseimh.org

Hike on New Year’s Day
Monday, January 1, 2018. Time and location to be determined.Please keep a lookout for community emails with details of the event. If you do not currently receive community emails and would like to, please contact us atfrontoffice@windhorseimh.org.

Community Lunches:Stephanie’s Goodbye Lunch
Tuesday, December 19th, 12:30-1:30pm in the Windhorse office kitchen.Please note that this is the third Tuesday of the month, which is a week later than is typical for Community Lunch.

January Community Lunch
Tuesday, January 9th, 12:30-1:30pm in the Windhorse office kitchen.

For more information, contact us at info@windhorseimh.org.
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The Annual Holiday Party & Potluck

We cordially invite you to this year’s Windhorse Holiday Party & Potluck, which will take place on the evening of Tuesday, December 12th. In years past, this celebration has been well attended and a great deal of fun. We hope you will join us for the festivities!

When: Tuesday, December 12th, 2017

Time: 5:30-8pm, with set up beginning at 4:45pm and clean up from 8 to 8:30pm.

Please bring a main dish, side dish, appetizer, or dessert to contribute to the potluck. If you can, please also bring your own plate, bowl, and cup. We can provide these items to those who forget, but it will reduce overall clean up for Still Point folks and helpers if most people bring their own dishes. THANK YOU!

In addition to the potluck, Virginia will be preparing a fun cookie-decorating station for those who are interested. The cookies will be baked in advance, and frosting, colored sugar, and other decorating supplies will be provided.

Also, there will be a traditional Yankee swap gift exchange. For those who aren’t familiar with this fun custom, here is a simple explanation: Everyone draws a number. The person who drew #1 chooses a gift from the pile and unwraps it. Then person who drew #2 may choose from the gift just unwrapped or a new wrapped gift, then the #3 person may choose from either of the first two gifts or a new gift, and so on… Those who would like to can bring a wrapped item (or multiple items, if you so choose) to contribute to the swap. The gift may be something you have at your home, or you could purchase something to bring (valued at $10 or less). However, everyone is welcome to participate in the swap, even if you do not bring a gift. Gifts are given for everyone to enjoy. Out of respect for those with scent and chemical sensitivities, we ask that all gifts be fragrance-free.

We would very much appreciate the help of anyone willing to take part in the set up and clean up for the party. If you would like to help set up you may arrive at Still Point as early as 4:45pm. Clean up will take place from 8 to 8:30pm. Many thanks in advance to those who help out!

Things To Do: Solstice Celebrations

Many traditions take place during the month of December, including celebrations of the winter solstice. The winter solstice usually falls on or around December 21st, but celebrations take place in the days or weeks preceding or following. For those interested, here are three such celebrations taking place in the area. The first is being hosted by Victoria, the Executive Director of the Windhorse Northampton site.

Basic Attendance Training with Jeremy

On Wednesday, November 15th, Windhorse partnered with Lisa Sarno from Sierra Tucson for an event entitled Basic Attendance: Relational Mindfulness for Clinicians and Caregivers. A group of about 20 local and regional providers convened in the Northampton room of the Hotel Northampton for some socializing and a delicious dinner followed by a poignant presentation by Jeremy Andersen, a Senior Clinician and the Education Director here at Windhorse IMH Northampton. Jeremy offered an hour-long presentation about the power of meditation and mindfulness for clinicians, and how contemplative practice is the foundation of Basic Attendance. He led the group through a meditation practice, incorporating the sometimes rowdy background sounds of downtown Northampton into the practice itself. He emphasized how tending to oneself, particularly through a contemplative practice, serves not only ourselves, but also the individuals in our lives that we are caring for, both personally and professionally. The participants asked excellent questions and gave great feedback, and everyone agreed that we should hold a similar sort of meeting again in the future.

Written by Davis Chandler, Team Leader and Admissions team member at Windhorse IMH Northampton.

The Art of Being With: Relational Mindfulness for Clinicians and Caregivers

According to contemplative psychology, the capacity to be present and available to others is both an expression of our basic human sanity and a strength we can cultivate. We share this capacity with everyone we encounter, regardless of role, diagnosis, and the like. Mindfulness meditation and other contemplative practices offer us a way to bring forward this natural clarity, warmth, and openness. We can then bring these qualities into the various relationships and environments that fill our work and lives. The intentional practice and art of this kind of relational mindfulness is known as Basic Attendance. In Basic Attendance, one attends to one’s own mind and body, to the other person, and to the relational and physical environment as a whole. By mindfully connecting with our immediate experience in this way, we are better able to meet others with presence and genuine openness—human being to human being—and better able to recognize and encourage the innate wakefulness we all share.

Board Meeting Summary from December 5, 2017

The Board met at 12pm EST/9am PST on Tuesday, December 5th. Marylou Sullivan sent her regrets at the Board level and Annie Collins was unable to attend at the staff level.

Nathan, who works in Portland as a Team Leader and used to work at Windhorse in Boulder led off the meeting with a mission moment talking about the strengths of each. He misses the cadre of clinicians that have been practicing WIMH for 30–40 years. He likes that they train the Portland contingent. The emergence of a new Windhorse is a bit unsettling to him, but he likes the beginner’s mind of it.

The agenda was mostly focused on the financials and the budget. After discussion from each site about how they were thinking about their budget, the Board ratified the budget for 2018. They expect to check in after the first quarter financials are available and asked the Directors to be ready to prepare new budgets if these are not in line with actuals.

Dimitri received a promotion from Associate Executive Director to Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo site. Lisa remains the West Coast Executive Director. The Board was pleased to have Dimitri step up and Lisa open up her time.

The Hearst Foundation grant came through, for two years of projects on the west coast. It will help the organization’s 2017 bottom line be positive, as the Northampton site has lost more money this year than San Luis Obispo and Portland sites have made. There are savings, but we really can’t continue this trend.

The Board voted on bonuses for the west coast, figured out next year’s calendar, and went into Executive Session. The Board also went over the highlights of 2017 and felt very positive about accomplishments and how the staff approached challenges (like low census). They also appreciated the harmony between sites. The next Board meeting is planned for Tuesday, February 13, 2018.

Written by Victoria Yoshen, Executive Director of Windhorse IMH Northampton.

’tis the Season for Giving and Receiving

Traditionally speaking, this time of year is when we gather with loved ones and demonstrate our appreciation for them with kind words and thoughtful gifts. Finding appropriate gifts can be a stressful and frustrating enterprise. How best to show your feelings? Do you need to spend a lot of time, or a lot of money? Sometimes, the simplest solution is a quick handmade gift. It demonstrates that you took the time to make something (but it need not take too much time) without needing to spend a great deal of money. Handmade gifts are often cherished just as much or even more than something store bought. Inspired by this, we’ve collected a short list of websites where you can find instructions for a variety of handmade items, from mason jar brownie mixes to bath salts, coasters to iPad holders. We’re confident that there’s at least one project on these lists that you will think looks fun to create and that will make a great gift.

Giving isn’t the only stressful part of the holiday season; receiving gifts can be just as difficult to manage. Receiving gracefully is practically an art form, and one which often takes years of practice to perfect. In honor of this we’d like to share with you a quote we came across. We hope it will inspire you to embrace the act of receiving, which in its way can be just as generous as giving.

“Gracious acceptance is an art – an art which most never bother to cultivate. We think that we have to learn how to give, but we forget about accepting things, which can be much harder than giving…. Accepting another person’s gift is allowing him to express his feelings for you.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, Love Over Scotland

Currents is published monthly by Windhorse Integrative Mental Health of Northampton, 211 North St., Suite 1, Northampton, MA 01060. Executive Director is Victoria Yoshen. For questions, concerns and suggestions about Currents, contact us at info@windhorseimh.org.

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for community gatherings!

Community Events:Thanksgiving Gathering Community Event
Thursday, November 23rd, 2:00-5:00pm at Still Point.See A Thanksgiving Together for more information.

Community Lunch:Stephanie’s Goodbye Lunch
Tuesday, December 19th, 12:30-1:30pm in the Windhorse office kitchen.Please note that this is the third Tuesday of the month, which is a week later than is typical for Community Lunch.

For more information, contact us at info@windhorseimh.org.
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A Thanksgiving Together

As in past years, Windhorse will once again host a Thanksgiving gathering and meal, and the Windhorse community is cordially invited to attend. If you are in the area, we hope you will join us for an afternoon of delicious food and merriment. A full menu will be provided and there will be items to accommodate those who are gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan. This year, we are holding a dessert potluck. We encourage guests to bring a dessert. (However, doing so is entirely optional.) If you have a special non-dessert Thanksgiving recipe that you are excited to share bring it along too!

We ask that you please RSVP no later than Monday, November 20th so that Sierra has an accurate headcount of the people planning to attend and can make enough food for all.

The menu will include: turkey, turkey gravy, traditional dressing, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, lentil & mushroom shepherd’s pie, kale salad, roasted winter vegetables, and cranberry sauce. As stated before, most of these items will be gluten-free, and many are either vegetarian or vegan.

For those of you without transportation, rides will be provided to the event. If you are in need of a ride please be at the Windhorse office by 1:45pm.

On behalf of the entire Windhorse community, we’d like to give a big thank you to Sierra and Virginia for hosting the event at Still Point.

We hope you will consider joining us for this wonderful event and we look forward to seeing you there!

Homemade (or Not) Gifts for the Hostess or Host

The holiday season often prompts invitations to holiday parties and as it is customary to bring something for the host or hostess of the party, we thought we’d supply you with a few ideas for homemade items you could bring.

How about a quick bread? These “breads” are actually more like cakes and use batter rather than dough. They are usually simple to make and can include spices and flavors appropriate to the season, such as pumpkin or cinnamon apple. Here’s a recipe for Caramel Apple Bread that might be worth a try. Feel free to use store-bought caramel in place of the homemade kind, to make the recipe even simpler and faster. Another good option is the holiday standard, Gingerbread. Those warming flavors are a welcome treat on a chilly winter’s night.

If you’re looking for something savory, how about Ratatouille and Cheesy Polenta. This recipe uses a crock pot and jarred tomato sauce to create the ratatouille, making it super easy. If you don’t have a crock pot, or if you want to stick to making a side dish, try just the cheesy polenta. The straightforward recipe will reward you with a rich, comfort-food-like result.

If you’d like to make something that the host/hostess can enjoy for awhile, how about some homemade granola? It’s generally easy to make and can make a very sweet gift when packaged in a ribbon-clad mason jar. Here’s one recipe that looks pretty tasty.

One common worry of people making homemade gifts of foods is possible food allergies of the recipients. It can be hard to find a recipe that is free of allergens, but they are out there. In our experience, chocolate cake is often a safe bet as it can be made without eggs, dairy, gluten, or nuts, and still come out moist and flavorful. A quick internet search for “vegan gluten-free chocolate cake” will give you plenty of recipes to choose from. Or give this recipe a shot (replacing the regular all-purpose flour for a high-quality, gluten-free variety such as Pamela’s Artisan Blend or Bob’s Red Mill) and let us know how it turns out.

If you’re short on time, or just not into the idea of making something, there are plenty of places in the area to pick up great gifts. We like Trader Joe’s in particular, as they have items that are both special and affordable, such as beautifully boxed chocolates. If you’d like to bring one of the aforementioned quick breads, you might find something similar at Atkins Farms or Woodstar Cafe. If you’re looking for something less on the sweet side, River Valley Co-op has a wonderful variety of ready-made dishes.

We hope these recipes and ideas help you to enjoy the holiday season and those holiday parties even more!

NVC Group to Begin in 2018

Nonviolent communication is a practice based on the work of Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D. It offers a way of authentically connecting with others through deep listening. The group itself is skills-based and, through exercises and dialogue, teaches the participants the basics of NVC and how to make use of it in their lives. NVC Groups are not new to Windhorse; the practice of nonviolent communication is admired, respected, and used by many people here, and Windhorse has hosted groups in the past.

All of the details of the group’s meetings may be found below. Sign up is required in order to attend. Please note that this group is not limited to just the Windhorse community; it is open to everyone so please invite any interested party to sign up. But please keep in mind that there is a cap of twelve participants.

Date: Wednesdays, beginning January 10th, 2018

Duration: The group will run for 12 weeks, with a possible 13th week reserved in case of a snow day.

Coping With the Holidays

The holiday season can be joyful. It can be full of light,laughter, and opportunities to visit with loved ones. It can also bring with it moments of stress, annoyance, frustration, and overwhelm. How does one handle such moments? We would like to offer these two videos in hopes that they can help with those difficult times. The first video is about the stories that we tell ourselves in our heads, the judgments we make of others and ourselves, and what we can do to interrupt this storytelling before we mistake conjecture for truth. The second video is about how to handle moments of overwhelm, a simple practice that can help you stay in the moment and perhaps calm your anxiety. Both videos are from Maia Duerr and are less than four minutes long. If you have any tools that help you during times of stress, we welcome you to share them with us in the comments section.

New to the Windhorse Library

Windhorse subscribes to a variety of magazines that we feel may be of interest to our community, and which are available in the office lobby for people to read and enjoy. Here are a few of our offerings:

Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, a publication about Buddhism in the Western world. It is published on a quarterly basis. This quarter’s issue features articles entitled “The Power of Pausing”, “The Guru Problem”, “Radical Openness”, and “Try a little gratitude”, among others.

Mindful: taking time for what matters, a magazine created as a voice for the mindfulness community and dedicated to the many benefits of mindfulness. It offers articles, commentary, and instruction relevant to both the seasoned mindfulness practitioner and the novice. It is published monthly. The December issue features articles entitled “Science of Mindfulness”, “Your Guide to Meditation”, “Big Brains, Small Minds”, and “Tough (Self) Love”, among others.

Community Lunch:
Tuesday, November 14th, 12:30-1:30pm in the Windhorse office kitchen.

For more information, contact us at info@windhorseimh.org.
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New “TED with Bread” Group Started

Recently, another new group started at Windhorse. This past Thursday was the first of three meetings of the “TED with Bread” group. In the words of the group’s facilitators, this group is “a series of TED talks accompanied by food and followed by discussion. We will be exploring challenges of the human experience and how to cultivate meaning, vitality and resiliency in one’s life as a path to promote connectedness and healing…We aim to explore our intentions as the talks inspire us, and apply them to the weeks ahead.”

We hope you will consider joining us for the remaining meetings of this group. After all, the more participation, the richer the discussion.

Please see below for all of the details.

Who: This group is open to the entire Windhorse community.

When: Thursdays, October 26th and November 2nd, from 1:00 to 2:30pm.

Where: Each meeting will take place in the Windhorse office Community Room or Library.

Pumpkin Carving For One and All!

As a member of our Windhorse community, we hope you will join us for some pumpkin carving at the office, which is this month’s community event. Pumpkins, tools, and patterns will be provided. Just bring yourself, a bit of creativity, and a willingness to get some pumpkin guts on you.

Things To Do: Websites for Events and Activities

With winter around the corner and (eventually) a drop in the temperatures, it may seem more difficult to find things to do. After all, there won’t be any outdoor farmers’ markets or fairs or concerts that you might happen upon as you walk or drive by. Nor will there be any swimming holes to visit or long, pleasant bike rides to eat up the day. But that isn’t to say that the Valley is lacking activity during the winter months; you just have to seek it out. We’ve compiled a list of websites that feature local events and activities. Some can be hard to navigate due to the tremendous wealth of information on them, but with a little searching we’re confident that you’ll find some activities that pique your interest.

Why Do We Love Pumpkins?

Why do pumpkins have such a huge presence in American culture during the autumn season? From canned pumpkin and pumpkin spice-favored lattes (and muffins and cereal and cookies and more), to festivals and “biggest pumpkin” competitions, to the classic Jack-o’-lantern on the front stoop at Halloween, these squashes have become iconic representations of the fall season. And yet there are so many other types of squash out there, and so many other fruits, vegetables, and flowers that are particular to the fall season. So why pumpkins? This question led us to do a little bit of research into the pumpkin’s history in the States as well as the history of the Jack-o’-lantern. Click on the links below to learn more.

Looking for more things pumpkin-related? You got it! We rounded up some tasty recipes for you to try. Please let us know what you think and how the recipes turned out in the comments section. Do you have a beloved recipe or two that use pumpkin? We’d love to hear about them, too. Please share in the comments section and spread the love!

15 Pumpkin Recipes From Healthy Pumpkin Banana Bread to Pumpkin Mac and Cheese to Pumpkin Pie Smoothies, this site has a lot of creative and delicious ways to incorporate pumpkin into your diet.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding If you don’t have time to make the pumpkin bread for the bread pudding, you could always pick some up at Atkins Farm or your local grocer’s bakery department. Some coffee shops like Woodstar Cafe may also sell it this time of year.

Budget Discussion to Happen Next Month

On October 4th, Phoebe presented her synthesis of the information she collected during the strategic planning process to the Windhorse staff and community. The next step in this process is to have a discussion about the 2018 budget.

The Windhorse community has expressed a desire for Victoria to describe how this year’s strategic plan has turned into a draft of next year’s budget, and to discuss how this all relates to Windhorse’s underlying values. In answer to this desire, on Wednesday, November 1st from 10 to 11am in the Windhorse office Community Room there will be a meeting to which the entire Windhorse community is invited. During this meeting Victoria will present an overview of how the synthesis fed next year’s budget and how the different realms of Windhorse and our organizational values are represented in the budget.

If you have any questions or are interested in attending this open meeting, please contact Windhorse at info@windhorseimh.org.

Adapted from last month’s article entitled, “Planning for Next Year’s Budget”.

Spooky Movies and Thrilling Novels

It’s that time of year when we all (or most of us anyway) secretly crave a scare or two. We’re on the hunt for movies and books that will send shivers up our spines and make us want to cover our eyes. Do you have any to recommend? If so, please tell us in the comments section. We’ll happily distribute any recommendations we collect to the Windhorse community email list so that we can all partake in this season’s freaky fun.

New to the Windhorse Library

Agnes’s Jacket: A Psychologist’s Search for the Meanings of Madness by Gail A. Hornstein

In a Victorian-era German asylum, seamstress Agnes Richter painstakingly stitched a mysterious autobiographical text into every inch of the jacket she created from her institutional uniform. Despite every attempt to silence them, hundreds of other patients have managed to get their stories out, at least in disguised form. Today, in a vibrant underground net-work of “psychiatric survivor groups” all over the world, patients work together to unravel the mysteries of madness and help one another re-cover. Optimistic, courageous, and surprising, Agnes’s Jacket takes us from a code-cracking bunker during World War II to the church basements and treatment centers where a whole new way of understanding the mind has begun to take form.

A vast gulf exists between the way medicine explains psychiatric illness and the experiences of those who suffer. Hornstein’s luminous work helps us bridge that gulf, guiding us through the inner lives of those diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar illness, depression, and paranoia and emerging with nothing less than a new model for understanding one another and ourselves.
~from the back cover